Apsley Marshes Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description

About the document

An Ecological Character Description describes the ecological character of a wetland at the time of its listing as a Wetland of International Importance. The Ecological Character Description is a fundamental management tool for site managers, forming the basis of management planning and action as well as including guidance on site monitoring requirements to detect changes in the ecological character of the site.

The Apsley Marshes Ramsar site is located on the east coast of Tasmania, fourteen kilometres south west of the town of Bicheno. The site covers approximately 880 hectares and lies within the municipality of Glamorgan-Spring Bay. It is situated almost entirely within private (freehold) land and is contiguous with the Moulting Lagoon Ramsar site. A small portion of the site in the south-east is within the Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve, under the management of the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service.

The ecological character description identifies limits of acceptable change, which describe the range of variation within which key aspects of the ecology of the site may vary without representing a change in ecological character. Limits of acceptable change for the Apsley Marshes have been proposed for all critical components, processes and benefits and services based on existing data.

The document also describes the current Ramsar listing criteria met by the site, the key threats and the knowledge gaps for Apsley Marshes. Recommended monitoring needs and communication messages are also provided.

Further information on what Ecological Character Descriptions are and how critical components, processes and services are identified is available in the National Framework and Guidance for Describing the Ecological Character of Australian Ramsar Wetlands – Module 2 of the National Guidelines for Ramsar Wetlands – Implementing the Ramsar Convention in Australia.